The pleasure of taking your bike on the train all the way to Newcastle City...

photograph by David Mist from the Powerhouse Museum Collection, Photograph collected from great Bicycle blog, Sydney Cycle Chic

..is now under threat! The NSW Government has a notion to build a Wickham Transport Interchange and 'truncate' (PR speak for 'cut off') the Railway line so you can no longer take a train into Newcastle.

I think this is a completely bad idea. So do some of my friends. Here is a copy of the letter Maryann wrote to the government:

To Whom It Concerns,

I am a user of the rail line between Newcastle station and Maitland. I want to be able to continue catching a train all the way into Newcastle beach.

I also want to be able to take my bike and children's bikes on the train to Newcastle beach. Buses won't let me do this.

The proposed interchange at Wickham is hopeless and not a solution.
What government gets rid of existing infrastructure that can only benefit a growing population ??? A short sighted government that is pandering to developers.

Please do not cut the Newcastle rail line.

Maryann Lees

If you would like to make contact with the government on this too, you should send a handwritten letter to the NSW Minister for transport and the Hunter Region, 
Gladys Berejiklian,   
Level 35 Governor Macquarie Tower, 
1 Farrer Place, 
SYDNEY NSW 2000. 

As well as your local state member 

For further information or to join the campaign, go to Save Our Rail website

Bicycles at Newcastle Baths (From Sydney Cycle Chic)